‘Anyone can challenge rights of Bumiputeras if Sedition Act abolished’

Source: Bernama

Former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the Sedition Act need not be abolished but can be upgraded to meet the current situation.

Adjust Font Size:

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4, 2014:

Abolishing the Sedition Act would threaten the peace and stability enjoyed by Malaysians as the rights and privileges of Bumiputeras could be challenged, a former top cop claimed.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said right now, the Act provided a protection to several matters concerning the institution of monarchy, Bumiputera rights and privileges, as well as freedom of speech.

“I think if the Sedition Act is abolished, anybody can challenge the privileges given to Bumiputeras in the Constitution.

“If this happens, I think the country will not be peaceful anymore and the public safety can be shaken,” he said after appearing as a guest speaker in the Ruang Bicara Bernama TV programme here tonight.

Other guest speaker in the one-hour programme hosted by Sherkawi Jirim was lawyer and political analyst Hasnal Rezua Merican.

Musa said the Act need not be abolished or replaced by a new law, but could be modified and upgraded to meet the current situation.

Prior to this, the government had proposed to abolish the Act and replace it with the National Harmony Act.

The Sedition Act, of which many consider to be draconian, has once again come under the limelight after several individuals, including a law lecturer, a journalist and opposition politicians were charged under it.

In July 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the 1948 law would be repealed once the National Harmony Act is introduced in its place. However, there have been calls made by some quarters for the Act to be retained.